Lou

No. There are no beaches within walking distance of Port Taino. HOWEVER, within the port itself, there is a lovely pool area and a "lazy river". I even saw a surf-style "flow rider" at the port. Looked like a lot of fun. If we hadn't booked an excursion, I might have just hung out at the port itself instead.

It's true and not a glitch. I just got back from a 7 day cruise aboard the Encore and miss the days on NCL cruises with "Legally Blonde", "Jersey Boys" , even "Burn the Floor". Now it was Choir of Men and a Beatles tribute band. Not terrible, but noticeably different and not as good. NCL is clearly cutting back.

For our cruise out of Galveston, our hotel (Holiday Inn) allowed us to leave our car on their lot for a reasonable fee. It wasn't covered, but the price was right. Most hotels around Galveston that cater to cruisers should offer a similar service. Check with your hotel.